Willow and Buffy hear the noises of students preparing to return to their homes for Thanksgiving and look sad that they will not be doing so also. Buffy lies on her bed dejectedly and sulks that she won't be getting a family holiday. She then springs up off the bed, excited, exclaiming that she will prepare Thanksgiving dinner and invite all her friends. Willow is disappointed; she thought Buffy had agreed that Thanksgiving is a "sham." "It is a sham," admits Buffy, "but it's a sham with yams. It's a yam sham." Willow is not convinced, but Buffy says she really wants to do this. They decide to invite Giles and Xander, and Willow is excited at the idea of not inviting Anya, but Buffy says that would be rude, since Anya and Xander are now a couple. Is Willow jealous of Anya, or just protective of Xander? Buffy sentimentally says that the point of Thanksgiving is that "everybody has place to go."

Outside, we see a pathetic Spike who seems to have fallen onto hard times. He's wrapped in a decrepit old blanket and looks pale and drawn. Woeful music plays as he trundles through the woods. Riley, Forrest, and Graham (hereafter known as "the dumb-atic trio") are patrolling, and Forrest mentions that he needs to pack. Riley admits that he has to stay on campus until Wednesday night to attend a debriefing with Dr. Hard-ass. The dumb-atic trio is now wearing camo face paint instead of ski masks, apparently since we the viewers now know their identity. They discuss how Spike is "neutered" with the implant. More not-so-witty repartee between Forrest and Riley. Maybe those two should just get together already.

In his swingin' basement pad, Xander is sitting in his bed, pulling on socks. ["Did you see that chair? I want!" -- Sep] Anya bursts in, demanding to know why he is not digging, since she went to see him at the construction site. He explains that he's attempting to get ready for work but doesn't feel well. Anya feels his forehead, declares him to be "pasty and wet and disgusting," and tells him not to go to work. She recalls the nasty diseases she inflicted as an avenging demon and starts to strip Xander out of his clothes. He tells her to leave because he might be contagious, but she says she'll stay and they can die together, romantically. "You're a strange girlfriend," says Xander, and Anya is shocked (and delighted) by the term "girlfriend." Xander excuses his statement by saying there's a chance he's delirious.